Why Take so Long?

I’m signing my life away. I’m giving up a comfortable, American lifestyle for something that might very well be the most difficult job on earth.

One question I’ve encountered and had to personally deal with myself is, “Why does it take so stinking long to plant a church???” Or maybe the question is, “Why does New Tribes take so long to plant churches?”

I’m so glad you asked…

New Tribes requires missionaries to fully learn the culture and language of the people they go to. This process can take anywhere from 2 to 7 years. But why? Seriously, do we really need to learn all that and take all that time?

Imagine someone from another country came and learned a bit of English and tried teaching you the deep teachings of Islam. They have a thick accent. They stumble over their words. They are committing all kinds of cultural blunders, including using idioms that don’t really fit. They dress in a strange manner with a long, flowing robe and turban. How long would you listen to them? Probably not very long. They don’t have any credibility. You would be frustrated and thinking they don’t really care about you. They only want you to raise your hand saying you believe and then they’ll go on to the next people.

Come on. Really??? Do I really want to have that kind of ministry among the people I’m working with? Do I really want to just say words? Do I really want to present information in such a way that they are confused for the rest of their life and simply mixing their beliefs with Christianity?

I don’t want them to think they are a project. I want them to see me as a friend. As a comrade. As one of them. And that requires knowing as much about them as I can. After all, I want to build relationships that are going to impact them at a heart level. That are going to change the way they view life. And that takes time.

I want them to fully understand the deep, wonderful truths of God’s Word, and that means I must learn how to communicate in their heart language. In a way that they can truly understand and appreciate.

And then after they get saved, I want them to grow into mature believers, strong in God’s Word and in their faith. That also takes time. Think how long it’s taken you to get to where you are in your relationship with God. It takes years!

I want to also give them the Word of God in their language, so they can understand it and study it for themselves. I can’t even begin to imagine not having the Bible to study. How would I grow as a believer?

I’m not going to plant a New Tribes Mission church (in fact, New Tribes never puts their name with any of the churches. They are not a denomination). I am going to see people believe in the true God and His sacrifice on their behalf and have their worldview changed.

So yes, it will take a stinking long time. I am signing my life away. But honestly, I can’t even begin to imagine something more worthwhile than this.